A composite image showing a Google Earth view of Lake Valdai, western Russia, with Putin's palace compound marked with an arrow. An inset image shows a zoomed-in view of what is reportedly a Pantsir-S1 air defense system located on an island nearby, with an arrow marking its location.
A Pantsir-S1 is marked about 3.3 miles from the Valdai Palace compound, as of July 2024.
  • Russia has moved much-needed air defenses close to Putin's Valdai Palace, Radio Liberty reported.
  • The palace is said to be the residence of Putin's rumored girlfriend and children.
  • The move comes amid an ongoing campaign of Ukrainian drone strikes over western Russia.

Russia appears to be straining its air defenses to better protect one of President Vladimir Putin's palaces.